I am no stranger to technology. In fact, I might almost be called an early adopter. Way back in my university days I used a computer at my part-time job, something most of my friends had never even tried. They were slightly in awe of me when I told them about the things I could do.
When I decided to get a TESOL diploma, I did that using technology -- entirely online -- meaning that I knew about Moodle and Blackboard before my kids did.
I was fortunate enough to walk straight into a full-time teaching position immediately after finishing my diploma, and from the start I used technology in the classroom. Since the low-budget Community ESL program I worked with did not have computers, I brought my own laptop to class. YouTube, BBC and CBC Learning English, ESL Library, and many other wonderful websites were my faithful friends, as students squinted to see the 17" screen.
I have since moved on to teaching LINC at a college with superbly equipped computer labs and classrooms. Desktop computers, SmartBoards, built-in projectors, and Moodle are all part of our daily routine. I am comfortable using them, but there is always something more to learn.
And that's where this course comes in. I look forward to climbing the technological cliff, honing my skills and learning about various types of technology, specifically for use in teaching English language learners.
I agree, it is good to be comfortable with technology, but you can always learn more. Sometimes (when you have to go back to a simpler, less tech classroom) you wonder how you managed before the availability of tech. I think that the more comfortably you demonstrate your facility with tech, your students will be willing to try.
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